Article
Environmental Sciences
Inka Anglade, Thomas H. Dahl, Bjorn S. B. Kristensen, Andreas Hagemann, Arne M. Malzahn, Kjell Inge Reitan
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of Hediste diversicolor to recover nutrients and energy from aquaculture sludge. The results showed that H. diversicolor could be successfully cultivated on both smolt and post-smolt sludge and was rich in proteins, lipids, essential amino acids, and fatty acids. It can be considered a promising candidate for recycling valuable nutrients from different types of side streams in salmon aquaculture.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Barbara Urban-Malinga, Magdalena Jakubowska, Anna Hallmann, Agnieszka Dabrowska
Summary: The study found limited toxic effects of graphene on the marine polychaete Hediste diversicolor, with the activation of defense mechanisms observed at the early stage of exposure. Significant inter-individual variability in the activities of certain biomarkers was found at the end of the long-term experiment, and the polychaetes buried deeper in sediments containing graphene exhibited escape and avoidance behavior.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Inka Anglade, Bjorn S. B. Kristensen, Thomas H. Dahl, Andreas Hagemann, Arne M. Malzahn, Kjell Inge Reitan
Summary: This study evaluated the capacity of the polychaete Hediste diversicolor to upcycle carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) from aquaculture sludge. It was found that H. diversicolor can successfully uptake these nutrients from the sludge, making it beneficial for the upcycling of side streams from Atlantic salmon production.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
M. S. S. Silva, Adilia Pires, A. Dick Vethaak, Concepcion Martinez-Gomez, Monica Almeida, Ricardo Pinto, Etelvina Figueira, Miguel Oliveira
Summary: Plastics, especially microplastics and nanoplastics, are considered emerging pollutants that have effects on organisms and ecosystems, particularly in marine environments. However, there is still a knowledge gap in understanding the effects of nanoplastics on marine invertebrates, such as benthic organisms. This study investigated the effects of 50 nm waterborne polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanoparticles on the marine benthic polychaete Hediste diversicolor, focusing on their behavioral, physiological, and biochemical endpoints. The results showed that PMMA nanoparticles affected the burrowing time, cholinesterase activity, energy metabolism, antioxidant status, and regenerative capacity of the polychaetes, with the most impact observed at a concentration of 50 µg/L. Further research is needed to understand the impacts of different sizes and polymers on marine organisms, especially benthic species.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Arne M. Malzahn, Andrea Villena-Rodriguez, Oscar Monroig, Asmund Johansen, L. Filipe C. Castro, Juan C. Navarro, Andreas Hagemann
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of rearing temperature and mixtures of aquaculture and biogas side streams on the biomass production and fatty acid composition of the polychaete Hediste diversicolor. The results showed that temperature significantly affected the biomass production, with higher temperatures promoting higher growth rates but lower survival rates. The diet had a significant effect on the fatty acid composition of the polychaetes. Therefore, optimizing the production temperature can enhance the growth of H. diversicolor without compromising the fatty acid composition and quality.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adilia Pires, Etelvina Figueira, M. S. S. Silva, Carina Sa, Paula A. A. P. Marques
Summary: This study reveals that the presence of GO nanosheets can have negative effects on the behavior, physiology, and biochemistry of benthic organisms such as H. diversicolor, suggesting that the increase of this engineered nanomaterial in the environment may disturb the benthic community and have repercussions on estuarine ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diana Madeira, Joana Filipa Fernandes, Daniel Jeronimo, Fernando Ricardo, Andreia Santos, Maria Rosario Domingues, Ricardo Calado
Summary: Global climate change is leading to more frequent extreme weather events, posing a threat to ecosystem services. Research on the intertidal ragworm reveals that its tolerance to prolonged heatwaves is influenced by calcium homeostasis, immune function, and stability of fatty acid profiles. This study demonstrates the potential for this keystone marine species to maintain survival under heatwave scenarios without growth trade-offs, with lower biological variation in physiological parameters and reduced molecular variance in proteins and fatty acids.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biology
David Daniel, Bruno Nunes, Edgar Pinto, Isabel M. P. L. V. O. Ferreira, Alberto Teodorico Correia
Summary: This study assessed the effects of ocean acidification combined with pharmaceutical exposure on the polychaete Hediste diversicolor, indicating that seawater acidification may enhance toxic effects of pharmaceuticals, highlighting the importance of understanding the effects of pharmaceuticals in a climate change scenario.
Article
Fisheries
Gwangseok R. Yoon, Hamza Amjad, Alyssa M. Weinrauch, Andrew Laluk, Miyoung Suh, W. Gary Anderson
Summary: The study found that feeding Lake Sturgeon with Artemia nauplii enriched with EPA and DHA could have positive effects on growth and survival, which could be beneficial for improving post-release survival rates in conservation aquaculture.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Madalena Antunes, Marta Neves, Damiana Pires, Ricardo Passos, Beatriz do Carmo, Carolina F. Tchobanov, Sara Forte, Mariana Vaz, Teresa Baptista, Carla Tecelao
Summary: This study investigated the potential use of macroalgae Pelvetia canaliculata in gilthead seabream feed. The analysis showed that fish fed diets supplemented with P. canaliculata had higher levels of oleic acid and lower levels of linoleic and palmitic fatty acids. All fish samples had lipid indices within the recommended limits for a balanced diet. These results suggest that fish fed P. canaliculata diets are a source of healthy lipids that can help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Article
Environmental Sciences
David Drolet, Cyrena Riley, Sonia Robert, Rafael Estrada, Bruno L. Gianasi, Christopher W. McKindsey
Summary: Shellfish and salmonid aquaculture operations in Eastern Canada attract several mobile epibenthic species due to increased food availability and structural complexity, but it is unclear whether the aggregation of predators and scavengers below coastal farms positively or negatively affects their population dynamics.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Franck Gilbert, Erik Kristensen, Robert C. Aller, Gary T. Banta, Philippe Archambault, Renald Belley, Luca G. Bellucci, Lois Calder, Philippe Cuny, Xavier de Montaudouin, Susanne P. Eriksson, Stefan Forster, Patrick Gillet, Jasmin A. Godbold, Ronnie N. Glud, Jonas Gunnarsson, Stefan Hulth, Stina Lindqvist, Anthony Maire, Emma Michaud, Karl Norling, Judith Renz, Martin Solan, Michael Townsend, Nils Volkenborn, Stephen Widdicombe, Georges Stora
Summary: Particle mixing and irrigation by benthic fauna have significant impacts on ecosystem functions like organic matter remineralization. A collaborative experiment was conducted to study particle reworking by polychaete Hediste diversicolor in the Northern Atlantic. The results suggest that particle reworking activities can be extrapolated to different populations under similar conditions.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gordana Kralik, Zlata Kralik, Manuela Grcevic, Olivera Galovic, Danica Hanzek, Ewa Biazik
Summary: The addition of fish oil and soybean oil in different proportions affects the basic parts ratio of eggs, with an increase in fish oil content resulting in higher levels of EPA and DHA in eggs, lower n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA ratio, and changes in protein content and color intensity with storage time.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Palomar, M. D. Soler, A. Tres, A. C. Barroeta, M. Munoz-Nunez, C. Garces-Narro
Summary: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary free fatty acid (FFA) content and the degree of saturation on egg quality, yolk fatty acid (FA) profile, and yolk cholesterol content. The results showed that the effect of varying dietary FFA levels on egg quality and yolk composition was not as significant as the differences in dietary fat sources.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Palomar, M. D. Soler, A. Tres, A. C. Barroeta, M. Munoz-Nunez, C. Garces-Narro
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary free fatty acid (FFA) content and the degree of saturation on egg quality, yolk fatty acid (FA) profile, and yolk cholesterol content. The results showed that the variation in dietary FFA level had smaller effects on egg quality and yolk composition compared to the dietary fat source.
Article
Fisheries
A. S. Madruga, P. M. Felix, J. Sousa, F. Azevedo e Silva, A. C. Brito, S. Mendes, A. Pombo
Summary: Sea cucumber harvest and trade has increased due to market pressure, leading to the collapse of stocks in the Indo-Pacific region. In Europe, wild stock harvesting is unsustainable for sea cucumber exportation, highlighting the need for aquaculture techniques. This study focuses on the influence of temperature on the growth of H. arguinensis juveniles and finds that a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius provides the best growth conditions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luca Grosso, Massimo Rampacci, Davide Pensa, Alessandra Fianchini, Esin Batir, Ilhan Aydin, Laura Ciriminna, Pedro M. Felix, Ana Pombo, Alessandro Lovatelli, Salvatrice Vizzini, Michele Scardi, Arnold Rakaj
Summary: Filter-feeding mussels enhance organic matter flows between the water column and the bottom, and deposit-feeding sea cucumbers are potentially optimal candidates to bioremediate mussel organic waste. A comparative investigation on the suitability of different Mediterranean sea cucumber species was conducted for the first time. H. tubulosa showed high survivorship and positive growth, making it an optimal candidate for IMTA with M. galloprovincialis operating farms.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Rui M. Monteiro, Isabel Domingos, Pedro R. Almeida, Jose L. Costa, Esmeralda Pereira, Ana F. Belo, Teresa Portela, Ana Telhado, Bernardo R. Quintella
Summary: The upstream movement of juvenile eels in the Mondego River in Portugal was studied from January 2017 to August 2019. A total of 12,019 individuals were counted and measured during their upstream movements, with a peak occurrence in spring and late summer. The main environmental variable explaining these movements was minimum water temperature, with a threshold of 13 degrees C triggering the onset of movements, and a peak between 15 and 19 degrees C, corresponding to the spring and summer periods. Other factors such as photoperiod, precipitation, and river flow also contributed to the movements but to a lesser extent.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY OF FISHES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Cleide M. F. Soares, Milson S. Barbosa, Samuel B. Santos, Silvana Mattedi, Alvaro S. Lima, Matheus M. Pereira, Carla Tecelao, Suzana Ferreira-Dias
Summary: This study aimed to produce human milk fat substitutes (HMFS) by lipase-catalyzed acidolysis. The results showed that immobilized Burkholderia cepacia lipase (BCL) in silica prepared with aprotic ionic liquid was the most effective biocatalyst. The study also found that BCL prefers to attack oleic acid rather than tripalmitin during the process.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Pedro M. Santos, Eliana Venancio, Maria Ana Dionisio, Joshua Heumueller, Paula Chainho, Ana Pombo
Summary: In 2017, aquaculture producers in Albufeira lagoon, Portugal, experienced an invasion of tunicates, particularly Styela plicata, which disrupted mussel production. This study examined eradication treatments, including air exposure, freshwater immersion, sodium hypochlorite, hypersaline solution, and acetic acid, for S. plicata, and their effects on the survival and growth of Mytilus edulis. The acetic acid treatment was the most effective in eliminating S. plicata, causing over 90% mortality, but it also resulted in a mortality rate of 33-40% in mussels.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Madalena Antunes, Marta Neves, Damiana Pires, Ricardo Passos, Beatriz do Carmo, Carolina F. Tchobanov, Sara Forte, Mariana Vaz, Teresa Baptista, Carla Tecelao
Summary: This study investigated the potential use of macroalgae Pelvetia canaliculata in gilthead seabream feed. The analysis showed that fish fed diets supplemented with P. canaliculata had higher levels of oleic acid and lower levels of linoleic and palmitic fatty acids. All fish samples had lipid indices within the recommended limits for a balanced diet. These results suggest that fish fed P. canaliculata diets are a source of healthy lipids that can help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tiago Rodrigues, Francisco Azevedo e Silva, Joao Sousa, Pedro M. Felix, Ana Pombo
Summary: This study evaluates the growth of H. arguinensis juveniles through substrate enrichment in recirculating aquaculture systems. Sea cucumbers fed with enriched sediment showed the highest growth rate and the lowest size heterogeneity compared to the control group. This study demonstrates the potential for large-scale sea cucumber rearing in Europe.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joao Sousa, Pedro M. Felix, Ana C. Brito, Eliana Venancio, Francisco Azevedo e Silva, Tomas Simoes, Ana Amorim, Maria Luisa Damaso-Rodrigues, Ana Pombo
Summary: This study aimed to improve the growth and survival percentage of Holothuria arguinensis during larval development, settlement and juvenile growth. The findings showed that diets based on Rhodomonas baltica and Chaetoceros calcitrans resulted in higher settlement survival compared to other diets. Additionally, introducing Sacchoriza polyschides in the juvenile diet led to increased growth in mean weight and length.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nuno Castro, Ignacio Gestoso, Patricio Ramalhosa, Evandro Lopes, Corrine Almeida, Ana Costa, Manuela Parente, Eva Cacabelos, Rogelio Herrera, Jose L. Costa, Joao Canning-Clode
Summary: The introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) has had severe impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystems. A standard experimental approach was used to examine biofouling assemblages and investigate NIS in the ecologically relevant region of Macaronesia. The study found that the recruitment and percentage cover of NIS decreased along a partial latitude gradient from the Azores to Cabo Verde. In total, 25 NIS were identified, including new records for the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cabo Verde.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Afonso Ferreira, Susana Garrido, Jose Lino Costa, Ana Teles-Machado, Vanda Brotas, Ana C. Brito
Summary: This study reveals the relationship between the recruitment of European sardine and environmental factors in the Western Iberia Upwelling Ecosystem. Sea surface temperature was identified as the main driver, and physical conditions like shallower mixed layers and onshore transport also played a vital role in sardine recruitment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Monique S. Sarly, Carmen A. Pedro, Catarina S. Bruno, Andreia Raposo, Helenita C. Quadros, Ana Pombo, Silvia C. Goncalves
Summary: Many studies have used biomarkers to monitor the effects of oil contamination on marine organisms, but few have focused on using sea urchin gonadal tissue. This study investigated the impact of an oil spill on the species Paracentrotus lividus, using quantification analyses and histopathological evaluations. The results showed that the levels of certain elements in the gonads were influenced by various factors, and there were correlations between biometric variables and element concentrations. Additionally, histopathological lesions and a delay in the reproductive cycle were observed in sea urchins from the affected area.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Maria Joao Correia, Patricia Mega Lopes, Pedro M. M. Santos, David Jacinto, David Mateus, Francesco Maresca, Bernardo Ruivo Quintella, Teresa Cruz, Silvia Lourenco, Ana Pombo, Jose Lino Costa
Summary: In this study, field experiments were conducted to test the usefulness of refuges and calcein marking for releasing juvenile sea urchins. The results showed the importance of using shelters to provide protection and validated the efficiency of the calcein tagging protocol for in situ monitoring.
AQUATIC LIVING RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luana Granada, Marco F. L. Lemos, Peter Bossier, Sara C. Novais
Summary: This study investigated the effects of stressors on two strains of B. koreanus (MRS10 and IBA3) from the B. plicatilis species complex. The results showed that IBA3 was more tolerant to the stressors compared to MRS10, and swimming capacity inhibition proved to be a sensitive alternative to traditional lethality tests for lower concentrations and shorter exposure periods.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biology
Tania Vieira Madureira, Diana Santos, Tiago Simoes, Marco F. L. Lemos, Eduardo Rocha
Summary: This study aimed to identify the fatty acids that best discriminate the reproductive status of male and female farmed brown trout. The fatty acid composition in liver and plasma samples from the adults of both sexes was monitored along four distinct reproductive stages. The most representative fatty acids were identified as palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. There were no significant sex differences in fatty acid classes, but several changes in individual fatty acid levels between the sexes were observed. Plasma profiles were mainly influenced by changes in saturated fatty acids and PUFAs in males and by PUFA in females. Based on the most representative fatty acids, patterns were established for female plasma samples, suggesting their potential for discriminating gonadal reproductive status. This potential can be further explored in aquaculture and environmental monitoring studies.
Article
Fisheries
Hunter S. Bailey, Ashley N. Fincannon, Lee A. Fuiman
Summary: This study investigated the transfer of fatty acids from broodstock diets to eggs and the time needed for the eggs to equilibrate to the diet in Southern flounder. The findings indicate that different diet treatments significantly affect the fatty acid composition of eggs, and it takes 8-16 weeks for the eggs to adapt to changes in the adult diet. These results are important for improving broodstock diets and feeding protocols in stock-enhancement programs.
Article
Fisheries
Yu Liu, Mingtao Lei, Hector Victor, Yan Wang
Summary: This study confirms the feasibility of replacing raw fish diet with a formulated diet in commercial farming of large yellow croaker, which can increase fish survival and yield, and reduce feed cost and body lipid deposition.
Article
Fisheries
Xiaoyan Zhang, Lize San, Yucong Yang, Yuehong Tao, Jiangong Ren, Yufeng Liu, Zhongwei He, Jiashuo Di, Ziteng Pei, Guixing Wang, Jilun Hou
Summary: Gynogenesis is an effective technique for establishing homogeneous lines and confirming potential chromosomal mechanisms of sex determination in fish. This study successfully induced gynogenetic families in Thamnaconus modestus and established a complete method for gynogenesis induction.
Article
Fisheries
Julieta C. Martinelli, Megan Considine, Helen R. Casendino, Carolyn M. Tarpey, Isadora Jimenez-Hidalgo, Jacqueline L. Padilla-Gamino, Teri L. King, Lorenz Hauser, Steven Rumrill, Chelsea L. Wood
Summary: Shell-boring polychaetes have caused significant damage to mariculture operations worldwide, particularly in the US Pacific region. This study provides a comprehensive dataset on the prevalence, species distribution, and environmental associations of these parasites, highlighting the impact of season, culturing methods, and environmental factors on infestation.
Article
Fisheries
Juan Gao, Xueshan Li, Kangle Lu, Kai Song, Jian Zhang, Ling Wang, Chunxiao Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of dietary protein levels on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activity, and metamorphosis rate of bullfrog tadpoles. The optimal dietary protein level for bullfrog tadpoles was estimated to be 42.49%-46.50% of the diet.
Article
Fisheries
Qiang Li, Lijun Duan, Dongsheng Jin, Yuxin Chen, Yirong Lou, Qianjin Zhou, Zhongjie Xu, Fangjie Chen, Hongxian Chen, Guizong Xu, Maocang Yan, Guanjun Yang, Jianfei Lu, Yanjun Zhang, Jiong Chen
Summary: This study developed a centrifugal microfluidic chip with on-chip RPA to detect five pathogenic microorganisms. The chip enabled the parallel analysis of six genetic markers from a single sample and allowed for the highly automated detection of multiple samples. Compared with PCR and DNA sequencing, the on-chip RPA assay showed high sensitivity and specificity for detecting multiple pathogens in shrimp aquaculture.
Article
Fisheries
Xingchen Huo, Pengxu Wang, Fengxia Zhao, Qian Liu, Qingqing Tian, Lingjie Tang, Maolin Lv, Zhaohui Wei, Chunrong Yang, Jianguo Su
Summary: Bacterial diseases in aquaculture ponds have negative effects on sustainable development. The use of composite I20 biotherapy has been shown to effectively treat bacterial diseases in bullfrog ponds, providing a new strategy for controlling bacterial diseases in aquaculture.
Article
Fisheries
Peng Yin, Takaya Saito, Per Gunnar Fjelldal, Bjorn Tharandur Bjornsson, Sofie Charlotte Remo, Sandeep Sharma, Rolf Erik Olsen, Kristin Hamre
Summary: This study aims to investigate the effect of seasonal changes in temperature and photoperiod on the redox metabolism of Atlantic salmon at the molecular level. The research findings suggest that the changing photoperiod and temperature influenced the redox metabolism of Atlantic salmon, highlighting the importance of oxidative status in the ecological implications.
Article
Fisheries
Nicholas Oppong Mensah, Jeffery Kofi Asare, Emmanuel Tetteh-Doku Mensah, Ernest Christlieb Amrago, Frank Osei Tutu, Anthony Donkor
Summary: This study investigates aquaculture farmers' preference for climate-smart aquaculture insurance products, the challenges they face, and their preferred insurance coverage. The results show that farmers prefer Climate-Induced Aquaculture Stock Mortality Insurance and the most significant constraint is the delay in claim settlement.
Article
Fisheries
Qiu-Ping Chai, Pei Wu, Wei-Dan Jiang, Yang Liu, Hong-Mei Ren, Xiao-Wan Jin, Lin Feng, Xiao-Qiu Zhou
Summary: The study found that appropriate levels of potassium diformate (KDF) can enhance the immune defense and mediate the inflammatory process in fish, possibly through the regulation of T cell differentiation via JAK-STAT and NF-kappa B signaling pathways.
Article
Fisheries
Tian Zhu, Haomin Jia, Haopeng Zhang, Yujing Xiao, Cui Han, Jiaxin Yang
Summary: Chicken manure has significant effects on the cultivation of Chlorella and rotifers. The optimal amount of chicken manure extract for continuous cultivation is 10 mLL-1. Chicken manure can promote the growth of Chlorella and improve the fatty acid composition, indirectly enhancing the growth condition and fatty acid content of rotifers.
Article
Fisheries
Zheng Luo, Yang Yu, Zhenning Bao, Fuhua Li
Summary: This study analyzed the heritability and genetic correlation of two growth traits in Pacific white shrimp and evaluated the genomic prediction using different genomic selection models. The results showed that the NeuralNet model had the highest prediction accuracy and better prospects for predicting shrimp growth traits.
Article
Fisheries
Alberto Ruiz, Ignasi Sanahuja, Karl B. Andree, Dolors Furones, Paul G. Holhorea, Josep A. Calduch-Giner, Jose J. Pastor, Marc Vinas, Jaume Perez-Sanchez, Sofia Morais, Enric Gisbert
Summary: Supplementing diets with a combination of spice oleoresins can reduce lipid accumulation and inflammation in farmed fish. The combination of spice oleoresins also has an immunomodulatory effect on the fish's intestinal immune system, potentially offering anti-inflammatory benefits.
Article
Fisheries
Beibei Zhao, Renhui Mei, Le Li, Di Hu, Lei Li
Summary: This study reveals that JfCXCL8_L1a and JfCXCL8_L1b have different immune pathways, and JfCXCL8_L1b plays a significant role in enhancing the adaptive immunity of T cell-dependent antigen.
Article
Fisheries
Yuhang Liu, Danying Cao, Nan Wu, Xuyang Zhao, Qingsong Zhu, Lian Su, Fatima Altaf, Qianqian Zhang, Haokun Liu, Yongming Li, Bruno Hamish Unger, Yingyin Cheng, Wanting Zhang, Aihua Li, Yaping Wang, Xiao-Qin Xia
Summary: Based on previous research, sinomenine has been found to protect mucosal immunity in farmed fish species by preventing intestinal pathological changes and regulating gene expression related to inflammation. It also enhances immune homeostasis and controls the growth of pathogenic bacteria.